IVF is not for the faint of heart

Over the last 18 months I felt like my family members were all part of the staff of Dr. Carole Kowalczyk at the Michigan Center for Fertility and Women’s Health.  http://www.micenterforfertility.com/. 

This feels like a family affair.  Its rather personal.   My protocol for the last 60 days has been to prepare my body for IVF.  First the egg retrieval and then the embryo transfer and finally the day we have all been waiting for the pregnancy test.   I took so many damn shots I felt like a pin cushion.  Microdose Lupron daily and then I did the Gonadatropins which was a concoction of powder and  of medications. 

Lupron:

This medication “quiets” your ovaries prior to starting gonadotropins. This is taken subcutaneously with a small 1cc syringe.

Stimulation medications:

These medications are used to stimulate follicle development in the ovaries. Stimulation medications include: Bravelle, Menopur, Gonal-F, Gonal-F Pen and Follistim Pen.

Bravelle, Menopur, and Gonal F require mixing a powder with water using a Q-cap. This injection is taken subcutaneously using a 27GA ½” needle, and 3cc syringe. I only took MENOPUR and Gonal F.   I did this mixture and at first it felt like a major DRAMA.  

To mix the HCG  (THAT IS THE NAME FOR THE MENOPUR AND GONAL F MIXTURE) injection: use a 3cc syringe with 1 ½ inch needle to draw 1cc/ml of water into the syringe. Then inject the water into the vial of powder. Remove the syringe and roll the vial between your hands. Once dissolved, withdraw the full 1cc/ml of fluid out of the vial. Your injection is now ready. This is injection is taken in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock, right behind the hip.  I stuck mine in the stomach. 

Gonal-F Pen and Follistim Pen are in a pen-like delivery system that you dial the pen to the appropriate dose, attach a needle, and then take the injection subcutaneously. The pens are typically used for several doses. I used the Gonal F Pen.  The pen is super easy to use.  I really liked it.

HCG/Novarel/Ovidrel:

This injection is taken to stimulate oocyte maturity. It is a timed injection and is typically taken 36 hours prior to oocyte retrieval.

To mix the HCG injection: use a 3cc syringe with 1 ½ inch needle to draw 1cc/ml of water into the syringe. Then inject the water into the vial of powder. Remove the syringe and roll the vial between your hands. Once dissolved, withdraw the full 1cc/ml of fluid out of the vial. Your injection is now ready. This is injection is taken in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock, right behind the hip.

There is no mixing required for Ovidrel, it is provided in a prefilled syringe and is taken in the stomach as well.